SANTA ANA, Calif. — Catholic leaders in Los Angeles County and Orange County, Calif., have agreed to pay $5.2 million to settle a lawsuit involving a priest accused of sexually molesting a teen in 1991.
Church leaders also agreed to accept a new code of conduct, to be enforced by a judge, which will provide stricter sanctions for clergy who victimize young people.
Monsignor Michael Harris, 56, is accused of molesting Catholic high school student Ryan DiMaria, who is 28 now but was 17 at the time of the alleged molestation.
Harris has consistently denied wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime.
He agreed to leave the priesthood and has been listed as “inactive” with the church since 1994.
As part of the settlement, a Web site and toll free number will be established for reporting sexual abuse, and educational pamphlets will be distributed in Catholic churches and schools.
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